Published:
July 24, 2008 Historic
Balmoral sails by Burnham-On-Sea during annual summer visit
Walkers
along Burnham-On-Sea's Esplanade were treated to a glimpse of
the historic 60 year-old ship Balmoral as it glided past the town
on Thursday morning (July 24th).
The Balmoral was on its annual trip up the River
Parrett to Dunball, near Bridgwater, to collect several hundred
passengers booked on an excursion around the Bristol Channel.
It
was met in Burnham at 9.30am by Bridgwater Bay's harbour master
Chris Spencer on his pilot boat and then docked at Dunball before
setting sail at 11am with its passengers onboard.
The
ship was built in Southampton in 1949 and operated under the Southampton
Red Funnel Fleet for 20 years. She then moved round to the Bristol
Channel where she became the last member of P&A Campbell's
famous White Funnel Fleet. When they ceased operation in 1980,
the Balmoral moved to Dundee to become a floating restaurant,
and there she stood, gradually falling into disrepair, until she
was rescued by the friends and supporters.
She
returned to service in 1986 and to this day operates her main
summer season in the Bristol Channel, offering day excursions
to popular coastal resorts. She also makes visits to other ports
and piers throughout the UK in the spring and autumn.
In
the winter of 2002, the Balmoral was fitted with new engines.
The project was dependent on nearly £150,000 being raised
through the help of the public sector and local councils and fundraising
which in turn secured a further £750,000 contribution from
the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The
Balmoral sailed past Burnham's beach on Thursday morning
The
ship was met by Burnham's Harbour Master, who sailed out on a
pilot boat
The
Balmoral passed Burnham again at 11.30am with hundreds of passengers
onboard
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